SARA-R500E-01B LTE-M Module

The SARA-R500E-01B module is based on u-blox's UBX-R5 cellular chipset. It is the first module with an onboard integrated SIM and bundled LTE-M connectivity for the continental US, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Alaska, Canada, and Mexico, with no roaming limitations or extra charges in the listed regions.

The integrated SIM contains all the attributes and features needed to connect the module to the cellular network. Like a standard SIM card, which it replaces, the SIM inside the SARA-R500E-01B allows the module to connect to the LTE-M network specifically intended for the North American market. The SIM profile and settings are preconfigured, providing a simple out-of-the-box connectivity experience.

The SARA-R500E-01B supports a comprehensive set of 3GPP Rel. 14 features relevant to IoT applications, like improvements to power consumption, coverage, data rate, mobility, and positioning. It is 5G-ready in the LTE-M/NB-IoT part of the 5G standard for Massive Machine Type Communication (mMTC), improving end-product scalability and lifetime.

The module is designed for customer applications where robustness, security, and compactness are required. The integrated SIM cannot be stolen or removed, meeting the needs of sealed devices.

The integrated SIM saves costs and board space since the SIM card holder and related circuitry are not required. This removes the need to separately source a SIM card and a connectivity plan, as both are offered by u-blox with the SARA‑R500E-01B. Customers only need to activate it by using the u-blox Thingstream Platform and then choose their preferred data plan. Supported u-blox services include MQTT Anywhere, AssistNow, and CellLocate.

The EVK-SARA-R500E-01 kit is a powerful and easy-to-use tool that simplifies the evaluation of the u-blox SARA-R500E series LTE-M/NB-IoT cellular modules. ADP-SARA-R500E-01 adapter boards are effective tools used for evaluation of SARA-R500E modules.